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http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2354844/detail.html
Springs Man Legally Carries Shotgun To Council Meetings
POSTED: 6:14 a.m. MDT July 24, 2003
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Reaction to a man's decision to carry a shotgun to City Hall to speak during council meetings has prompted a majority of council members to support a ban on openly carrying weapons in city buildings.
The council is expected to vote Aug. 12 for the ban, which would change a move the council made this spring to allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry firearms on public property. That change was required by a new state law easing the concealed-weapons permitting process.
Support for the ban comes in part from fears of people who have said they will avoid attending City Council meetings because a man with a grudge against the police department twice carried an unloaded shotgun into City Hall.
Don Ortega did not break any laws when he brought the shotgun to the building. He hasn't threatened anyone and did not hold the gun when he spoke to the council. But his actions have intimidated some staffers and city residents, council members said.
"I'm a firm believer in gun rights," said Councilman Scott Hente, a gun owner. "But having weapons in an open meeting is threatening."
Ortega, who frequently argues that police have harassed him, first brought his shotgun to the July 8 council meeting. He returned with the weapon on Tuesday, and council members received numerous complaints.
One woman told Councilman Jerry Heimlicher that her child's teacher said she won't bring her class to council meetings for field trips as long as guns are allowed to be carried openly, he said.
The majority of council members say they do not want to ban concealed weapons. But after a closed session late Tuesday, most said they were behind a ban on openly carrying guns in city buildings
"If our goal is to get more people involved and be more excited about being involved in our government, we need them to feel safe," Councilwoman Margaret Radford said.
Opposing the change is Randy Purvis, who said he has seen only one gun carried openly in City Hall, and said the novelty of Ortega's actions will wear off.
"I think the inconvenience of carrying a weapon around is going to prove enough of a deterrent," he said.
Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition president Bernie Herpin said his group plans to talk to council members about what he called an "irrational fear."
But Wednesday's shooting in New York, where a City Council member was shot to death during a meeting, could strengthen backing for the ban.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," Vice Mayor Richard Skorman said.
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LOL
Springs Man Legally Carries Shotgun To Council Meetings
POSTED: 6:14 a.m. MDT July 24, 2003
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Reaction to a man's decision to carry a shotgun to City Hall to speak during council meetings has prompted a majority of council members to support a ban on openly carrying weapons in city buildings.
The council is expected to vote Aug. 12 for the ban, which would change a move the council made this spring to allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry firearms on public property. That change was required by a new state law easing the concealed-weapons permitting process.
Support for the ban comes in part from fears of people who have said they will avoid attending City Council meetings because a man with a grudge against the police department twice carried an unloaded shotgun into City Hall.
Don Ortega did not break any laws when he brought the shotgun to the building. He hasn't threatened anyone and did not hold the gun when he spoke to the council. But his actions have intimidated some staffers and city residents, council members said.
"I'm a firm believer in gun rights," said Councilman Scott Hente, a gun owner. "But having weapons in an open meeting is threatening."
Ortega, who frequently argues that police have harassed him, first brought his shotgun to the July 8 council meeting. He returned with the weapon on Tuesday, and council members received numerous complaints.
One woman told Councilman Jerry Heimlicher that her child's teacher said she won't bring her class to council meetings for field trips as long as guns are allowed to be carried openly, he said.
The majority of council members say they do not want to ban concealed weapons. But after a closed session late Tuesday, most said they were behind a ban on openly carrying guns in city buildings
"If our goal is to get more people involved and be more excited about being involved in our government, we need them to feel safe," Councilwoman Margaret Radford said.
Opposing the change is Randy Purvis, who said he has seen only one gun carried openly in City Hall, and said the novelty of Ortega's actions will wear off.
"I think the inconvenience of carrying a weapon around is going to prove enough of a deterrent," he said.
Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition president Bernie Herpin said his group plans to talk to council members about what he called an "irrational fear."
But Wednesday's shooting in New York, where a City Council member was shot to death during a meeting, could strengthen backing for the ban.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," Vice Mayor Richard Skorman said.
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LOL
Oh, thats right, I guess you have to be a council member like Davis in order to be trusted and get by security with a couple of guns in order to feel safe. 
